This Little Underground

LOCAL RELEASES

Did you know there’s such a thing as French surf rock? Like Serge Gainsbourg said, moi non plus. Thankfully, local instrumental band Jim and the Sea Dragons are well-versed in and have imported some on new album Sous les Paves, la Plage! Surf scene vet Jim Colby went across the pond and all the way back to pre-Beatles France for inspiration this time out, covering surf songs originally recorded by French bands in the early 1960s. The 12-song album is a well-done collection of tubular gallops with a romantic Gallic edge. It’s a twist both lively and lovely on music nostalgia, and it’s up on Bandcamp.

Nigel John is well-known as one of Orlando’s most intelligent and conceptual DJs. Under the guise of shadowy alter ego Kurt Rambus, he’s produced some of the most honed and distilled electronic music to come out of our scene. Fresh new single “HERT,” the first Rambus release in two years, is perhaps his most limber and liquid track yet, which is apt since the piece was created for a dancer friend. This time, the minimalist Kurt Rambus mystique rides a sleek electro slither with all the classic bass, clicks and cowbell. It’s an aerodynamic midnight drive that keeps the funk dark. “HERT” is available on Bandcamp.

CONCERT PICKS THIS WEEK

Captured! By Robots, Call In Dead,

Pariah: When it comes to gimmicks, it’s pretty tough to top Captured! By Robots. Although the California metal act is a three-piece stage show, only one of them’s human. Bad-tempered frontperson Jay Vance rages about social ills while flanked by two animatronic androids that he made himself to play guitar (GTRBOT666) and drums (DRMBOT 0110). So visualize the Rock-a-fire Explosion, only with more of a Terminator aesthetic, playing grindcore. No, I’m not kidding and, yes, you must see this before you die. It’s as stunning and hilarious as it sounds. Local support will be punk band Call In Dead and death-metal group Pariah. (8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, Will’s Pub, $13)

Trash the Cow 2: It’s nice to see one of the Milk District’s best music rooms back open again. It’s also nice to see that homegrown band Trash Cinema (the phoenix that’s risen from the ashes of grunge revivalists Yogurt Smoothness) is booking some rock shows there. In this second edition of the Trash the Cow showcase that they anchor, they’ll be joined by some underthe-radar area bands like garage punks the Speed Spirits, glammy rockers Character

BY BAO LE-HUU

JIM COLBY OF THE SEA DRAGONS | PHOTO BY SARA DAWSON

Surf scene vet Jim Colby went across the pond and all the way back to pre-Beatles France for inspiration for the newest Jim and the Sea Dragons album, covering surf songs originally recorded by French bands in the early 1960s

Witness and melodic indie rockers Linqo. (9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, Iron Cow, free)

Sunny Day Real Estate, The Appleseed

Cast: As of this writing, the reunited Sunny Day Real Estate have not broken up … yet. But their first tour in over a decade will still be very young when they come to town. Should all hold, though, we’ll be witnessing these emo gods on only their sixth performance since reforming. Considering how things went after their previous reunion tour, this may be the last chance to catch them in a very long time. So go see how very serious and angsty we all were in the 1990s. Tourmates the Appleseed Cast, who used to come here frequently, will also be a noteworthy blast from the past. (7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, House of Blues, $35-$85)

Clutch, Helmet, Quicksand, J.D. Pinkus:

With their devout fanbase here, Clutch need only show up and people will come in droves. And yet, expect the room to be even hotter than usual since the blues-metal titans are coming off one of the longest recording lulls in their illustrious career with fresh new album Sunrise on Slaughter Beach, released just last week. Furthermore, with fans this loyal, Clutch could fill out the rest of the roster with smooth-jazz openers and the crowd would still be lit. Instead, they’re coming with an absolutely maxedout bill studded with heavy underground stars like alt-metal icons Helmet, intelligent hardcore heroes Quicksand and Butthole Surfers bassist and weirdo-rock lifer J.D. Pinkus. This is a Dagwood sandwich of rock. (6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, House of Blues, $35-$80)

baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com orlandoweekly.com ● SEPT. 21-27, 2022 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY 31